Part I: Reality Check
By Michael Harrington
AASI-Certified Snowboard Instructor

“Just like learning to snowboard, it may take several days or weeks to get the hang of it – even if you rip on snow.” — www.Freebord.com

“Yeah, but I’ve been teaching snowboarding longer than some of these guys have been alive,” I thought to myself. “If it’s just like snowboarding, I’m crushing this thing in minutes.”

I should probably explain the bold statement above. My name is Michael Harrington and I live in Stoughton, MA (halfway inbetween Boston & Providence), where I am an AASI (American Association of Snowboard Instructors)-certified Level 1 snowboard instructor. I’ve been snowboarding since 1990, teaching since 1991 and I’m currently the staff trainer at my local ski area.

Another staff trainer from a Vermont mountain turned me on to the Freebord a few months ago and I thought it had some serious potential as a tool for training our new and returning instructors in the early-season. At an area that wasn’t able to open until the day after Christmas last year, that’s a lot of lost training time for the staff.

So I contacted Freebord and after a couple e-mails and phone calls, they were gracious enough to send me two decks so that my buddy Dan (the other snowboard trainer at Blue Hills, MA) and I could put it through its paces to see if our theories held water: Could we teach ourselves to learn to Freebord using our considerable experience teaching people how to snowboard? Would what we teach beginners on the snow work on the pavement?

Fast-forward to Sunday, March 11th — an extra hour of sunlight, temps in the low-60′s– perfect. The board is all set up and I take it to the parking lot of my kids’ elementary school, which had a nice mellow pitch with a good fall-line and no car traffic. I’m all geared up — in addition to my helmet, I’ve got my vert ramp kneepads on, wristguards, and a pair of impact shorts. I stand on the board, get myself into the bindings, hop myself into pointing straight downhill, and…nothing. It won’t roll. Not being comfortable skate-pushing into a downhill start, I look for some slightly steeper pitch. OK, let’s try over here…OK, NOW it’s rolling. Yeah, it’s moving, alright, but in completely the opposite direction I want it to. I can’t get it to roll straight downhill, and when I can, it feels like it wants to do nothing but spin 360 underneath my feet. Shouldn’t I be able to get this thing to make a J-turn, or at least travel across my little “hill” in a shallow traverse?

OK, Merriam-Webster “Word-of-The-Day” time. Today’s word is hubris. Hubris means “exaggerated pride or self-confidence” as in, “Michael’s inability to immediately rip on the Freebord was brought on by his hubris.” I’m more than a little disappointed right now — I really thought I was going to crush this thing. To borrow a phrase from the Red Sox radio guys, “And, at the end of one, it’s Freebord–1, Harrington–nothing.”

Tomorrow is going to be another 60+-degree day, though, and, being the stubborn Irishman that I am, I am not TOTALLY defeated. Round Two soon approaches…stay tuned for the next installment of “The Geezer Freebord Chronicles,” coming soon.

Here’s a great compilation of all the riders that just missed the cut for the 2012 Pro Team. Keep an eye out on everyone you see here, you’re likely to see a few of them on next year’s team!

Take a break from work and go check out Denis L’s latest creation, Mad Freebording. Denis has been developing this game for a while now and this is the alpha version he released earlier today. You may be familiar with his previous work, Freebord The Game. If this game is anything like his last, we at Freebord MFG expect to waste a lot of time playing it! Dennis, we hold you and your game directly responsible for any loss in productivity over the next month.

Click here to play the alpha version of Mad Freebording.

Rider Question:
Hey my name is Griff and I’ve been freebording for about four months. I’m wondering if it matters whether or not I use skateboard wheels. I use them for the amount of rocker they give the board. I’ve noticed that all the pros use either Freebord wheels or longboard wheels. Does size make a difference?

Pro Answer: Corey Lucero
Whatup Griff!

Size does make a difference to an extent when it comes to Freebord wheels, but not just for one reason.

Using skateboard wheels would give you a large amount of rocker as you have stated, but the other issue with using those wheels is the durometer. They are usually pretty hard wheels with duros of 90 and above. Also the contact size of skateboard wheels is small, this combination on a Freebord will give you a rough ride, and less friction to turn into stopping power.

Using a bigger and softer durometer wheel will not only provide you with a smoother ride overall, but you will be able to stop quicker and maintain stability at higher speeds with more ease.

Now since you like lots of rocker, you could try smaller longboard wheels maybe around 60mm, but I wouldn’t go softer than 78a durometer. The softer you go, the faster they will wear down and have potential to flat spot. The other issue starting with smaller wheels is that they are only going to get smaller. So starting with a wheel like Da Blues 78mm 80a durometer will last you longer overall, and wear down at a slower rate, thus maintaining various mm sizes for longer periods of time than its smaller, softer counterparts. When you ride all the time, how fast a wheel wears down is a big consideration when buying wheels.

Another route you can explore is larger center wheel sizes, but you must be careful with this because most of the wheels on the market are made for inline skates, and are not designed to take the abuse that a Freebord puts on them. They can melt, explode, de-laminate unexpectedly, and cause a wreck. Take it slow when experimenting!

So explore those larger and softer wheels, and notice the performance difference. I definately recommend you check out Da Blues wheels, even if you like a lot of rocker. Always wear your helmet, and If you decide to try larger non Freebord MFG center wheels, maybe wear some other pads as well.

SHRED ON!

-Corey Lucero

Do you have a trick tip or riding question for our Freebord Pros? Hit us up at info@freebord.com and include “Ask a Freebord Pro” in your subject line.

Rider Questions:
I just got my first go pro HERO, so I wonder which camera settings do you recommend? It’s the snowboard season here in Norway now, so it is not much freebording, unfortunately. But I’m thinking about trying to ride in some tunnels, what settings will you recommend then?

Thanx! From Fredrik, Norway

Pro Answer: Caleb Casey
Hey Fredrik! Thanks for sending the question to Ask a Freebord Pro!

Great question! The resolution you choose can make or break a shot. There’s three different kinds of GoPros so I’ll tell you the three main things you need to look at when choosing your resolution: FOV (field of vision), FPS (frame per second), and straight resolution which is how many pixels are in the shot.

When filming a DH shot or park shot, you’ll want to look for the widest FOV possible and when filming a POV shot (helmet cam) or pole cam shot (like this: http://vimeo.com/30237811) you’ll want the tallest FOV possible.

Your choice on FPS should be based on your motion editing and what you want out of the shot once it’s on the computer. If you’re looking to throw something into slow motion, you’ll want the highest FPS possible (usually 60fps on GoPros). If it’s gonna be edited in real time, 30fps works great. I wouldn’t go lower though.

And finally the straight resolution. I would advise to never film below 720p because that’s the first level that’s HD. I mean you got a GoPro, why shoot anything in standard def? I haven’t had time to mess with the new GoPro 2 but on the HD Hero, the 1080p seems to get a little ‘jumpy’ or ‘skippy’ at high speeds, so filming DH with it isn’t such a great idea. But if you’re shooting park, a panoramic, taking pictures, anything that’s not fast, definitely shoot it in 1080p cause it’s gonna produce the highest quality picture.

On shooting in tunnels, good luck. GoPros seem to not shoot so well in low light. The GoPro 2 is supposed to fix that problem, but again, I haven’t had the opportunity to shoot with it yet. Otherwise just follow the steps above for what kind of shot you’re looking for and try to keep the cam angled towards one of the openings of the tunnel as opposed to side shots of riders with the walls behind them.

I don’t know the settings for the Naked or the GoPro 2 but I have the HD Hero and these are the settings I use:
r3 (720p @60fps) for DH, slowmo, and wide park or freestyle shots.
r4 (960p @ 30fps) for POV’s, and pole cam shots.
r5 (1080p @30fps) for park and freestyle that I don’t want to slomo, panoramics, still shots, and pictures.

Hope that helped! Now get out there and film! See you on the hills!
-Caleb Casey

Do you have a trick tip or riding question for our Freebord Pros? Hit us up at info@freebord.com and include “Ask a Freebord Pro” in your subject line.

Rider Question:
What do I need to work on in my freebording to become a freebord pro? What criteria make you “good” at freebording?

Thanks,
Dallas

Pro Answer: Mike Hoppe
Hey Dallas, thanks for the question. There’s no specific “criteria” to being pro. The first thing you should do is check out all the team subs from last year. They’re on the team profiles here: www.freebord.com/team

While some of us are more downhill oriented and others are more freestyle oriented, notice that every member of the team is pretty well-rounded and can do both.

Couple of other things that might help you get sponsed:

Get a crew. Riding with friends is way more fun. Get some rides up the hill, film eachother, push eachother, etc.

Find good terrain. Stepping up to bigger, better hills and skate spots is crucial as you’re stepping up you riding game. Keep exploring.

Film a lot. Self-made videos are how every pro first got on the map, so make an effort to improve your filming techniques and editing skills so you can showcase your riding well.

Baby steps. Don’t be stupid. Stay within your limits and live to ride another day. Don’t step to that 10 stair if you can’t do 5, and definitely do not be unsafe on big hills if you’re feeling sketchy. And of course, wear your helmet, every time, no excuses.

Submit early. Even if you don’t feel your riding is at team-status yet, it never hurts to submit for the team at the end of each year. This will get you on Freebord’s radar and the team manager may give you some specific feedback on areas that need improvement.

At the end of the day, I wouldn’t worry too much about “practicing” this stuff. Just ride a lot and have fun doing it and the progression will come. The best reward you’ll ever get out of your bord is the pure thrill of riding it down your favorite hill. That’s still true for me, and it’s something we all share in common, pro or not.

-M

Rider Question
So I have a question. My name is Bernie and I have been a Freeborder for a little over two years now. I was wondering how can I learn how to do a full spin on the board when going down a hill. Sort of like this @ 0:32 on http://www.freebord.com/team/daniel-vega/. I’m referring to the Virginifornia video by the way. Oh! Also, is there any reason on most of the videos posted on the site that you guys get pulled over by the police? What causes you guys to get in trouble? Is it just disturbing traffic, or just skating on public streets? Answers would be very appreciated.:) Later!

Pro Answer: Daniel Vega
Yo Bernie!

I think I can help you out, dude. The first step to getting a 360 slide down is understanding your edges and what they do. For example, when you’re on your heels with weight your front foot, you slide frontside into switch. Since you’ve been riding for two years, you most likely have a good grasp on this concept already so im not going to dwell on it.

The spin you referenced in Virginifornia is a backside 360, the first spin I learned, so I’m going to focus on that one. Anything in {brackets} is for the frontside 360.

Step 1: On your toeside {heelside} edge, subtly shift your weight to your front foot. This will cause you and your board drift backside {frontside}.

Step 2: At this point, you are about to finish the first 180 (you’re halfway there!). once you get to about 170°, roll your weight over to the back foot on your heelside {toesdie} (technically since you’re in switch at this point, it’s your front foot). This will cause you to drift on your heels {toes} right back into regular.

STEP 3: Practice, challenge yourself by doing it at higher speeds not too far outside of your comfort zone. Throw an overslide into it or out of it. Add some style. Sprinkle bacon and milk duds all over that shit. whatever. Make it your own, and wear a helmet.

TIPS:
- The less pressure you apply on your edges, the more you’ll maintain your speed – at first it will probably look like a 180-180 but if you practice your timing it will turn into a seamless 360.

- Once you initiate the spin, turn your head in the direction of your spin. Always look where you’re going. Your legs follow your torso which follows your shoulders which follows your head. Buttery Ass Donovan can drop some more knowledge on ya http://vimeo.com/2843605 – commit. Don’t hesitate.

And Regardng the cops:
Yeh. What we do is technically illegal (depending on how much of a killjoy the officer is). We try our hardest to be polite and respectful of traffic and residents where we ride so that we don’t jeopardize the possibility of ever going back. But there’s always the anal old man that takes pictures of us skating, and the car and its plates, thinking the people in the forensics lab will deem it priority number one first thing in the morning; or the woman that grabs her kids and clinches them tight as we come riding by, all too aware of our cruel intentions; or you or one of your buddies has a close call with a moving car. These are the signs I usually see but any significant hint or gesture that youre not welcome you should probably
move on to the next spot cause chances are they’re callin 5-0. I’ve gotten a couple of tickets for ‘Playing on a roadway’. Guilty as charged. But more often than not they just tell you to get the hell out of there.

I hope I was able to help, Bernie! Keep the shred alive.

Cheers,
Vega

Do you have a trick tip or riding question for our Freebord Pros? Hit us up at info@freebord.com and include “Ask a Freebord Pro” in your subject line.

Rider Question:
Hey, I just fell really hard! My problem is that when I’m going over a certain speed, the change from edge to edge is really aggressive. Can anyone give me advice on how to control my board when going very fast? I have 2 set-ups, one with stock wheels and b chubbs for chilling, and one with da blues with 72mm Upgrade Center Wheels for downhill on a Bamboo OG Deck.

THX! from Monterrey, Mexico

Pro Answer: Corey Lucero
I’m guessing you use the second setup (da blues, 72mm centers, bamboo) for faster downhill, and will base my tips on that.

The first thing that comes to mind from the description of your issue would be how tight or loose are your trucks? If your trucks are too loose, edge transfer could be aggressive because you are able to lean further over your edge before you get a response from it, and end up distributing too much weight over the edge when it does respond. This can cause the trucks to be in a position for a very sharp turn, very quickly, and throw you off if you aren’t expecting it. If this is the case, try tightening your trucks to various tensions and then go ride to see if it has made a difference, tighten/loosen as necessary.

If you feel that you are comfortable with your truck tension, then also look into the condition of your bearings. If your bearings don’t spin well, this could also be the cause of your issue. When the edge wheels with rusty/dirty bearings hit the pavement the friction could be enough to exaggerate a turn, and throw you off a bit, although I don’t think this would be as big of an issue as truck tension. I would recommend cleaning the bearings in this case, there are many tutorials on youtube of how to do this…here is my cousin explaining one way to do it with Acetone: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9kr7klUON8

Lastly, since you have experience skating and wakeboarding, I won’t go into super detail about weighting yourself on the Freebord, but in my opinion it helps to keep my back leg bent, and my front leg straighter (but still slightly bent) when going fast. So you don’t want to be leaning back over the rear truck, but just centering more weight over the rear truck in general.

Well hey man I hope this helps, props to you for learning to Freebord on your own!! I know what its like eating pavement so let me know if you need more pointers or anything to be clarified.

SHRED ON!

-Corey Lucero

Do you have a trick tip or riding question for our Freebord Pros? Hit us up at info@freebord.com and include “Ask a Freebord Pro” in your subject line.